HistoryRepeated glaciations, which covered the entire land-mass of modern Scotland, destroyed any traces of human habitation that may have existed before the Mesolithic period. It is believed that the first post-glacial groups of hunter-gatherers arrived in Scotland around 12,800 years ago, as the ice sheet retreated after the last glaciation. Groups of settlers began building the first known permanent houses on Scottish soil around 9,500 years ago, and the first villages around 6,000 years ago. The well-preserved village of Skara Brae on the Mainland of Orkney dates from this period. Neolithic habitation, burial and ritual sites are particularly common and well-preserved in the Northern Isles and Western Isles, where a lack of trees led to most structures being built of local stone. A four thousand year old tomb with burial treasures was discovered at Forteviot, near Perth, the capital of a Pictish Kingdom in the eighth/ninth century AD. Unrivalled anywhere in Britain, it contains the remains of an early Bronze Age ruler laid out on white quartz pebbles and birch bark, with possessions including a bronze and gold dagger, a wooden bowl and a leather bag. Government Scotland's head of state is the monarch of the United Kingdom, currently Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952). The title Elizabeth II caused controversy around the time of the queen's coronation, as there had never been an Elizabeth I in Scotland. A legal case, MacCormick v. Lord Advocate (1953 SC 396), was taken to contest the right of the Queen to title herself Elizabeth II within Scotland, arguing that to do so would be a breach of Article 1 of the Treaty of Union. The case was lost and it was decided that future British monarchs would be numbered according to either their English or Scottish predecessors, whichever number is higher. Hence, any future King James would be styled James VIII (since the last Scottish King James was James VII (also James II of England, etc.)) whilst the next King Henry would be King Henry IX throughout the UK despite the fact that there have been no Scottish kings of the name.
Geography The main land of Scotland comprises the northern third of the land mass of the island of Great Britain, which lies off the northwest coast of Continental Europe. The total area is 78,772 km2 (30,414 sq mi), comparable to the size of the Czech Republic, making Scotland the 117th largest country in the world. Scotland's only land border is with England, and runs for 96 kilometres (60 mi) between the basin of the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. The Atlantic Ocean borders the west coast and the North Sea is to the east. The island of Ireland lies only 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the southwestern peninsula of Kintyre; Norway is 305 kilometres (190 mi) to the east and the Faroes, 270 kilometres (168 mi) to the north. Climate The climate of Scotland is temperate and oceanic, and tends to be very changeable. It is warmed by the Gulf Stream from the Atlantic, and as such has much milder winters (but cooler, wetter summers) than areas on similar latitudes, for example Labrador, Canada, Moscow, or the Kamchatka Peninsula on the opposite side of Eurasia. However, temperatures are generally lower than in the rest of the UK, with the coldest ever UK temperature of −27.2 °C (−16.96 °F) recorded at Braemar in the Grampian Mountains, on 11 February 1895. Winter maximums average 6 °C (42.8 °F) in the lowlands, with summer maximums averaging 18 °C (64.4 °F). The highest temperature recorded was 32.9 °C (91.22 °F) at Greycrook, Scottish Borders on 9 August 2003.
In general, the west of Scotland is usually warmer than the east, owing to the influence of Atlantic ocean currents and the colder surface temperatures of the North Sea. Tiree, in the Inner Hebrides, is one of the sunniest places in the country: it had 300 days of sunshine in 1975. Rainfall varies widely across Scotland. The western highlands of Scotland are the wettest place, with annual rainfall exceeding 3,000 mm (118.1 in). In comparison, much of lowland Scotland receives less than 800 mm (31.5 in) annually. Heavy snowfall is not common in the lowlands, but becomes more common with altitude. Braemar experiences an average of 59 snow days per year, while coastal areas have an average of fewer than 10 days.
Average Temperature
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
°C
2.9
3.6
4.7
7.1
9.9
13.0
14.7
14.3
12.1
8.7
5.3
3.7
8.3
°F
37.2
38.5
40.5
44.8
49.8
55.4
58.5
57.7
53.8
47.7
41.5
38.7
46.9
Average Rainfall
.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
mm
55.1
41.2
47.2
39.1
50.2
49.7
64.0
69.4
62.7
62.0
63.0
60.8
664.5
inches
2.2
1.6
1.9
1.5
2.0
2.0
2.5
2.7
2.5
2.4
2.5
2.4
26.2
Transport Scotland has five main international airports (Glasgow International, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow Prestwick and Inverness) which together serve 150 international destinations with a wide variety of scheduled and chartered flightsBAA operates three airports, (Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen), and Highland and Islands Airports operates 11 regional airports, (including Inverness), which serve the more remote locations of Scotland. Infratil operates Glasgow Prestwick.
The Scottish motorways and major trunk roads are managed by Transport Scotland. The rest of the road network is managed by the Scottish local authorities in each of their areas.
Regular ferry services operate between the Scottish mainland and island communities. These services are mostly run by Caledonian MacBrayne, but some are operated by local councils. Other ferry routes, served by multiple companies, connect to Northern Ireland, Belgium, Norway, the Faroe Islands and also Iceland. Forth Bridge Network Rail Infrastructure Limited owns and operates the fixed infrastructure assets of the railway system in Scotland, while the Scottish Government maintains overall responsibility for rail strategy and funding in Scotland. Scotland’s rail network has around 340 railway stations and 3,000 kilometres of track with over 62 million passenger journeys made each year.
Scotland's rail network is managed by Transport Scotland. The East Coast and West Coast Main Railway lines and the Cross Country Line connect the major cities and towns of Scotland with each other and with the rail network in England. Domestic rail services within Scotland are operated by First ScotRail. Furthermore in Glasgow there is a small integrated subway system which has been in existence since 1896. There are currently 15 stations and there is a daily ridership of just under 40,000. There are plans to extend the subway system in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The East Coast Main Line includes that section of the network which crosses the Firth of Forth via the Forth Bridge. Completed in 1890, this cantilever bridge has been described as "the one internationally recognised Scottish landmark".
Scotland Train Travel offers one the opportunity of exploring the famous as well as the virgin locations of Scotland. Scotland Train Travel is an enchanting experience of lifetime.
Scotland Train Travel is primarily controlled by First ScotRail. Over the year this mode of transport reduced considerably. Train Travel in Scotland has cut down substantially when tracks were open for heavy transportation. Many sectional lines and railway stations in Scotland have been closed. The route of railways has came down to two-thirds of the former. Nowadays huge development is initiated to enhance the reputation of Scotland Railways.
Scotland Train Services
Various Train Travel in Scotland are:
First Scotrail: This particular train service is ideal for the tourists who are not only traveling within Scotland but also want to explore the rural destinations of the Scottish Highlands.
The Great North Eastern Railway is a one of the best transport service of Scotland. Train service between Edinburgh and London could be avail after every hour. Services are also available between Aberdeen and Inverness.
National Rail offers a useful source of transportation for a tour to famous destinations of Scotland. Here integrated timetables of various companies and routes are available. One could even search out the cheapest fares of train ticket online.
Strategic Rail Authority implements government rail enterprises.
Stamps
Scotland's currency is the British Pound, though the banks print Scottish money notes
Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was established in 1670 and during the twentieth century acquired three Regional Gardens - the mountainous Benmore in Argyll; Dawyck in the wooded hills of the Scottish Borders and Logan on the Gulf Stream-warmed southern peninsula of Dumfries & Galloway
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh, Dawyck, Logan and Benmore — each with its own specialist collection. The RBGE's living collection consists of more than 15,000 plant species, (41,00 accessions) whilst the herbarium contains in excess of 3 million preserved specimens. The Edinburgh site is the main garden History
The Edinburgh botanic garden was founded in 1670 at St. Anne's Yard, near Holyrood Palace, by Dr. Robert Sibbald and Dr. Andrew Balfour. It is the second oldest botanic garden in Britain after Oxford's. In 1763, the garden's collections were moved away from the city's pollution to a site on the road to Leith, and the garden moved to its present location at Inverleith in 1820. The Temperate Palm House, which remains the tallest in Britain to the present day, was built in 1858.
The botanic garden at Benmore became the first Regional Garden of the RBGE in 1929. It was followed by the gardens at Logan and Dawyck in 1969 and 1978.[1]
The Garden at Edinburgh
The Botanics at Edinburgh is a hugely important player in a worldwide network of institutions seeking to ensure that biodiversity is not further eroded. The RBGE is actively involved in, and coordinates numerous in situ and ex situ conservation projects both in the UK and internationally. The three main cross-cutting themes of scientific work at the RBGE are: Scottish Biodiversity, Plants & Climate Change, and Conservation.
In addition to the RBGE's scientific activities the garden remains a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Locally known as "The Botanics", the garden is a popular place to go for a walk, particularly with young families. Entrance to the botanic garden is free, although a small entry charge exists for the glasshouses. During the year the garden hosts many events including live performances, guided tours and exhibitions. The RBGE is also an important centre for education, offering taught courses across all levels.
Established in 1670 and referred to as the 'Botanics,' this attraction has welcomed over 660000 visitors each year. Its present location in Inverleith is not its original one as it was moved from Holyrood in 1820 where it was only set up as a physic garden, which is one for medicinal and healing purposes.
Some stone steps leading round some pink flora
Acknowledged as a garden where the unusual and beautiful can be found, one can find 6% of all known plants here. This number might seem small, but when one thinks of the variety of plants in the world, it becomes quite impressive.
Special collections have been sent aside for the delicate and tall plants, which are housed in the Palm House that is the tallest in the United Kingdom. The Glasshouses is an opportunity to see plants from all ten-climate zones. The oldest plants are carefully tended in the Orchid and Cycad House, while the Tropical Aquatic House holds all the rainforest based plants. Not something one sees everyday. For the spectacular, go to the Peat and Rock Houses where your eyes will feast on the largest collection of Vieya Rhododendrons that are directly from New Guinea and Borneo.
In 1997, the Chinese Hillside opened to display Chinese plants that are the largest collection of native Chinese plants in cultivation. They were collected during the early 20th century and are set within a beautiful and calming setting that holds a pool of water. Related to this theme is the Rock Garden displaying rare stones, such as those from the Alps. There is also the Scottish Health Garden and Woodland Garden.
A lovely bridge scene most of us can only dream of recreating
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's Herbarium was set up in 1836. It is an organized collection of dried plants offering an easy way to examine many kinds of plants or many examples of one particular kind. Herbariums provide a valuable, permanent record of plant life. A good herbarium has many specimens of each kind of plant from the area in which it is located. If the specimens are protected from pests and moisture, specimens will last for hundreds of years, the oldest of which dates back to 1697.
East entrance 25 April 2004
In reference to the three other Gardens, Benmore is in the Eachaig Valley, just north of Dunoon, and measures 150 acres in which you can find Redwoods, some as high as 130 feet (40 metres) and 250 species of rhododendrons including one from the Himalayas. The Logan is close to Stanraer and is reputed to be the most exotic garden in the country among which are eucalypts and is in a constant blaze of colour. The Dawyck is near Peebles and thanks to a 300-year-old tradition of tree planting has a stunning collection of trees, such as conifers and beeches as well as walking along trails to discover some of the special collections. The banks of the Scrape Burn turn white thanks to its snowdrops.
Opening times
Open daily from 10am (except 25 Dec and 1 Jan), closing: 4pm Nov to Feb | 6pm Mar | 7pm Apr to Sep | 6pm Oct
Glasshouses close: 3.30pm Nov to Feb | 5pm Mar to Oct
Garden entry is FREE with a charge for the Glasshouses. NOTE: the John Hope Gateway is now open and there is visitor access through the West Gate. The North Gate on Inverleith Place is now closed Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle dominates the city of Edinburgh like no other castle in Scotland, and Edinburgh Castle is unequalled in the whole of the British Isles. Over one thousand years of history sit on top of the famous Edinburgh rock, and when you see Edinburgh Castle you will understand why over a million visitors a year visit Edinburgh Castle.
When you come to Scotland and visit Edinburgh Castle you will see why the early inhabitants of the area we now call Edinburgh, made their first settlements here, in what is now the city of Edinburgh. People have always sought a safe refuge, and the volcanic rock that forms the base of Edinburgh Castle, has always afforded the ultimate safe and defensive position in Edinburgh.
The City of Edinburgh grew outwards from the Castle rock, and the first houses in Edinburgh were built on the area in front of Edinburgh Castle, which is now known as the Lawnmarket, and then the house building continued down the High Street and The Cannongate towards the Royal Palace of Holyrood House. These streets collectively form a single street known as The Royal Mile. The Royal Mile acquired its name over the ages as Scottish and English kings, queens and royalty in general, have travelled to and fro between the Palace of Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle - hence the name The Royal Mile.
No visit to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle, and once you have ventured up to the highest parts of Edinburgh Castle’s structure, you will be overwhelmed by the spectacular views of Edinburgh afforded from this Scottish "Castle of Castles".
Edinburgh Castle is every schoolboy's dream of what a castle should look like and the Edinburgh Castle website endeavours to give the Edinburgh visitor an in-depth view of Edinburgh Castle and it's history from early times right up until the present day.
The visitor to the Castle is awarded with magnificent panoramas in every direction when they visit the Castle. No matter whether you are on the lowest levels of the Castle, or the highest points, visitors are delighted by what can be seen. When you look to the north, on a clear day, you can see the mountains of The Kingdom of Fife in the distance and immediately below you are the world famous Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street is unique in that the shops along its length are only on the north side of the street, so from them you have an uninterrupted view of the Castle. Beyond Princes Street is George Street the most original of Edinburgh's Georgian New Town Streets - with shops along its length. Continuing to the north you have Queen Street which runs parallel to it. Beyond Queen Street the remaining New Town Preservation area is mostly residential, and the city can boast of having the most intact Georgian city in the whole of Europe, and has Unicef World Heritage Site status.
Apart from information on Edinburgh Castle, we have included lots of general information about Edinburgh in the website. You will notice we have sections covering Edinburgh accommodation which include Edinburgh Hotels, Edinburgh Bed and Breakfasts, Edinburgh Guest Houses, Edinburgh Self-catering Flats and Edinburgh Apartments. Other sections include Edinburgh Cafes, Edinburgh Entertainment, Edinburgh Restaurants, Edinburgh Weddings, Edinburgh Festivals and of course Shopping in Edinburgh. On Edinburgh Pubs and Clubs Guide website you can also find lot of useful information on where to relax and have fun in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Castle website has many photographs of the various artefacts contained in Edinburgh Castle and pertaining to the Castle and Edinburgh itself. We act on what the Edinburgh Castle website visitors request, and have added the Edinburgh Tattoo page complete with the derivation of the word Tattoo as a result. We are always interested in what our visitors would like to see in Edinburgh, and in the pages of the Edinburgh Castle website. We welcome requests from you whether your interest is Edinburgh Castle or the City of Edinburgh, as we want our website to reflect what people really want to see and do when they visit Edinburgh. All photographs of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle used in our website are taken with state-of-the-art professional digital cameras by our resident Edinburgh Castle biz photographer, and we hope that his photos of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle reflect the diverse aspects of Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh.
Lake of Menteith Lake of Menteith at sunset
The Lake of Menteith (Scottish Gaelic "Loch Innis MoCholmaig"), or, until the 20th century, the Loch of Menteith, is a loch in Scotland, located on the Flanders Moss, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth and Teith, upstream of Stirling. The only settlement of any size on the Lake of Menteith is Port of Menteith.
The are a number of small islands in the loch. On the largest, Inchmahome, is Inchmahome Priory, an ancient monastery. The priory served as refuge to Mary Queen of Scots in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September of that year.
The Loch is not particularly deep and can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice becomes thick enough (10 inches (25 cm)) an outdoor curling tournament called The Bonspiel or the Grand Match is held on the loch. The event can attract thousands of curlers despite its rarity. The last Grand Match was held in 1979.
The Lake of Menteith is often thought of as the only body of water in Scotland that is referred to as a lake. Actually, there are others, including four small artificial bodies: Pressmennan Lake, the Lake of the Hirsel, Lake Louise (within the grounds of Skibo Castle) and Cally Lake (near Gatehouse of Fleet). There is also a sea bay near Kirkcudbright known as Manxmans Lake. Nearly all other major bodies of water in Scotland are known as lochs. This unusual name is believed to be a corruption of the Lowland ScotsLaich o Menteith, where "laich" simply means "low place".
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. In addition to the mainland, Scotland consists of over 790 islands including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.
History Repeated glaciations, which covered the entire land-mass of modern Scotland, destroyed any traces of human habitation that may have existed before the Mesolithic period. It is believed that the first post-glacial groups of hunter-gatherers arrived in Scotland around 12,800 years ago, as the ice sheet retreated after the last glaciation. Groups of settlers began building the first known permanent houses on Scottish soil around 9,500 years ago, and the first villages around 6,000 years ago. The well-preserved village of Skara Brae on the Mainland of Orkney dates from this period. Neolithic habitation, burial and ritual sites are particularly common and well-preserved in the Northern Isles and Western Isles, where a lack of trees led to most structures being built of local stone. A four thousand year old tomb with burial treasures was discovered at Forteviot, near Perth, the capital of a Pictish Kingdom in the eighth/ninth century AD. Unrivalled anywhere in Britain, it contains the remains of an early Bronze Age ruler laid out on white quartz pebbles and birch bark, with possessions including a bronze and gold dagger, a wooden bowl and a leather bag.
Government
Scotland's head of state is the monarch of the United Kingdom, currently Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952). The title Elizabeth II caused controversy around the time of the queen's coronation, as there had never been an Elizabeth I in Scotland. A legal case, MacCormick v. Lord Advocate (1953 SC 396), was taken to contest the right of the Queen to title herself Elizabeth II within Scotland, arguing that to do so would be a breach of Article 1 of the Treaty of Union. The case was lost and it was decided that future British monarchs would be numbered according to either their English or Scottish predecessors, whichever number is higher. Hence, any future King James would be styled James VIII (since the last Scottish King James was James VII (also James II of England, etc.)) whilst the next King Henry would be King Henry IX throughout the UK despite the fact that there have been no Scottish kings of the name.
Geography
The main land of Scotland comprises the northern third of the land mass of the island of Great Britain, which lies off the northwest coast of Continental Europe. The total area is 78,772 km2 (30,414 sq mi), comparable to the size of the Czech Republic, making Scotland the 117th largest country in the world. Scotland's only land border is with England, and runs for 96 kilometres (60 mi) between the basin of the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. The Atlantic Ocean borders the west coast and the North Sea is to the east. The island of Ireland lies only 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the southwestern peninsula of Kintyre; Norway is 305 kilometres (190 mi) to the east and the Faroes, 270 kilometres (168 mi) to the north.
Climate
The climate of Scotland is temperate and oceanic, and tends to be very changeable. It is warmed by the Gulf Stream from the Atlantic, and as such has much milder winters (but cooler, wetter summers) than areas on similar latitudes, for example Labrador, Canada, Moscow, or the Kamchatka Peninsula on the opposite side of Eurasia. However, temperatures are generally lower than in the rest of the UK, with the coldest ever UK temperature of −27.2 °C (−16.96 °F) recorded at Braemar in the Grampian Mountains, on 11 February 1895. Winter maximums average 6 °C (42.8 °F) in the lowlands, with summer maximums averaging 18 °C (64.4 °F). The highest temperature recorded was 32.9 °C (91.22 °F) at Greycrook, Scottish Borders on 9 August 2003.
In general, the west of Scotland is usually warmer than the east, owing to the influence of Atlantic ocean currents and the colder surface temperatures of the North Sea. Tiree, in the Inner Hebrides, is one of the sunniest places in the country: it had 300 days of sunshine in 1975. Rainfall varies widely across Scotland. The western highlands of Scotland are the wettest place, with annual rainfall exceeding 3,000 mm (118.1 in). In comparison, much of lowland Scotland receives less than 800 mm (31.5 in) annually. Heavy snowfall is not common in the lowlands, but becomes more common with altitude. Braemar experiences an average of 59 snow days per year, while coastal areas have an average of fewer than 10 days.
.
Scotland has five main international airports (Glasgow International, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow Prestwick and Inverness) which together serve 150 international destinations with a wide variety of scheduled and chartered flights BAA operates three airports, (Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen), and Highland and Islands Airports operates 11 regional airports, (including Inverness), which serve the more remote locations of Scotland. Infratil operates Glasgow Prestwick.
The Scottish motorways and major trunk roads are managed by Transport Scotland. The rest of the road network is managed by the Scottish local authorities in each of their areas.
Regular ferry services operate between the Scottish mainland and island communities. These services are mostly run by Caledonian MacBrayne, but some are operated by local councils. Other ferry routes, served by multiple companies, connect to Northern Ireland, Belgium, Norway, the Faroe Islands and also Iceland.
Forth Bridge
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited owns and operates the fixed infrastructure assets of the railway system in Scotland, while the Scottish Government maintains overall responsibility for rail strategy and funding in Scotland. Scotland’s rail network has around 340 railway stations and 3,000 kilometres of track with over 62 million passenger journeys made each year.
Scotland's rail network is managed by Transport Scotland. The East Coast and West Coast Main Railway lines and the Cross Country Line connect the major cities and towns of Scotland with each other and with the rail network in England. Domestic rail services within Scotland are operated by First ScotRail. Furthermore in Glasgow there is a small integrated subway system which has been in existence since 1896. There are currently 15 stations and there is a daily ridership of just under 40,000. There are plans to extend the subway system in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The East Coast Main Line includes that section of the network which crosses the Firth of Forth via the Forth Bridge. Completed in 1890, this cantilever bridge has been described as "the one internationally recognised Scottish landmark".
Scotland Train Travel offers one the opportunity of exploring the famous as well as the virgin locations of Scotland. Scotland Train Travel is an enchanting experience of lifetime.
Scotland Train Travel is primarily controlled by First ScotRail. Over the year this mode of transport reduced considerably. Train Travel in Scotland has cut down substantially when tracks were open for heavy transportation. Many sectional lines and railway stations in Scotland have been closed. The route of railways has came down to two-thirds of the former. Nowadays huge development is initiated to enhance the reputation of Scotland Railways.
Scotland Train Services
Various Train Travel in Scotland are:
Stamps
Scotland's currency is the British Pound, though the banks print Scottish money notes
Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was established in 1670 and during the twentieth century acquired three Regional Gardens - the mountainous Benmore in Argyll; Dawyck in the wooded hills of the Scottish Borders and Logan on the Gulf Stream-warmed southern peninsula of Dumfries & Galloway
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh, Dawyck, Logan and Benmore — each with its own specialist collection. The RBGE's living collection consists of more than 15,000 plant species, (41,00 accessions) whilst the herbarium contains in excess of 3 million preserved specimens. The Edinburgh site is the main garden
History
The Edinburgh botanic garden was founded in 1670 at St. Anne's Yard, near Holyrood Palace, by Dr. Robert Sibbald and Dr. Andrew Balfour. It is the second oldest botanic garden in Britain after Oxford's. In 1763, the garden's collections were moved away from the city's pollution to a site on the road to Leith, and the garden moved to its present location at Inverleith in 1820. The Temperate Palm House, which remains the tallest in Britain to the present day, was built in 1858.
The botanic garden at Benmore became the first Regional Garden of the RBGE in 1929. It was followed by the gardens at Logan and Dawyck in 1969 and 1978.[1]
The Garden at Edinburgh
The Botanics at Edinburgh is a hugely important player in a worldwide network of institutions seeking to ensure that biodiversity is not further eroded. The RBGE is actively involved in, and coordinates numerous in situ and ex situ conservation projects both in the UK and internationally. The three main cross-cutting themes of scientific work at the RBGE are: Scottish Biodiversity, Plants & Climate Change, and Conservation.In addition to the RBGE's scientific activities the garden remains a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Locally known as "The Botanics", the garden is a popular place to go for a walk, particularly with young families. Entrance to the botanic garden is free, although a small entry charge exists for the glasshouses. During the year the garden hosts many events including live performances, guided tours and exhibitions. The RBGE is also an important centre for education, offering taught courses across all levels.
Established in 1670 and referred to as the 'Botanics,' this attraction has welcomed over 660000 visitors each year. Its present location in Inverleith is not its original one as it was moved from Holyrood in 1820 where it was only set up as a physic garden, which is one for medicinal and healing purposes.
Special collections have been sent aside for the delicate and tall plants, which are housed in the Palm House that is the tallest in the United Kingdom. The Glasshouses is an opportunity to see plants from all ten-climate zones. The oldest plants are carefully tended in the Orchid and Cycad House, while the Tropical Aquatic House holds all the rainforest based plants. Not something one sees everyday. For the spectacular, go to the Peat and Rock Houses where your eyes will feast on the largest collection of Vieya Rhododendrons that are directly from New Guinea and Borneo.
In 1997, the Chinese Hillside opened to display Chinese plants that are the largest collection of native Chinese plants in cultivation. They were collected during the early 20th century and are set within a beautiful and calming setting that holds a pool of water. Related to this theme is the Rock Garden displaying rare stones, such as those from the Alps. There is also the Scottish Health Garden and Woodland Garden.
Opening times
Open daily from 10am (except 25 Dec and 1 Jan), closing:4pm Nov to Feb | 6pm Mar | 7pm Apr to Sep | 6pm Oct
Glasshouses close: 3.30pm Nov to Feb | 5pm Mar to Oct
Garden entry is FREE with a charge for the Glasshouses.
NOTE: the John Hope Gateway is now open and there is visitor access through the West Gate. The North Gate on Inverleith Place is now closed
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle dominates the city of Edinburgh like no other castle in Scotland, and Edinburgh Castle is unequalled in the whole of the British Isles. Over one thousand years of history sit on top of the famous Edinburgh rock, and when you see Edinburgh Castle you will understand why over a million visitors a year visit Edinburgh Castle.
When you come to Scotland and visit Edinburgh Castle you will see why the early inhabitants of the area we now call Edinburgh, made their first settlements here, in what is now the city of Edinburgh. People have always sought a safe refuge, and the volcanic rock that forms the base of Edinburgh Castle, has always afforded the ultimate safe and defensive position in Edinburgh.
The City of Edinburgh grew outwards from the Castle rock, and the first houses in Edinburgh were built on the area in front of Edinburgh Castle, which is now known as the Lawnmarket, and then the house building continued down the High Street and The Cannongate towards the Royal Palace of Holyrood House. These streets collectively form a single street known as The Royal Mile. The Royal Mile acquired its name over the ages as Scottish and English kings, queens and royalty in general, have travelled to and fro between the Palace of Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle - hence the name The Royal Mile.
No visit to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle, and once you have ventured up to the highest parts of Edinburgh Castle’s structure, you will be overwhelmed by the spectacular views of Edinburgh afforded from this Scottish "Castle of Castles".
Edinburgh Castle is every schoolboy's dream of what a castle should look like and the Edinburgh Castle website endeavours to give the Edinburgh visitor an in-depth view of Edinburgh Castle and it's history from early times right up until the present day.
The visitor to the Castle is awarded with magnificent panoramas in every direction when they visit the Castle. No matter whether you are on the lowest levels of the Castle, or the highest points, visitors are delighted by what can be seen. When you look to the north, on a clear day, you can see the mountains of The Kingdom of Fife in the distance and immediately below you are the world famous Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street is unique in that the shops along its length are only on the north side of the street, so from them you have an uninterrupted view of the Castle. Beyond Princes Street is George Street the most original of Edinburgh's Georgian New Town Streets - with shops along its length. Continuing to the north you have Queen Street which runs parallel to it. Beyond Queen Street the remaining New Town Preservation area is mostly residential, and the city can boast of having the most intact Georgian city in the whole of Europe, and has Unicef World Heritage Site status.
Apart from information on Edinburgh Castle, we have included lots of general information about Edinburgh in the website. You will notice we have sections covering Edinburgh accommodation which include Edinburgh Hotels, Edinburgh Bed and Breakfasts, Edinburgh Guest Houses, Edinburgh Self-catering Flats and Edinburgh Apartments. Other sections include Edinburgh Cafes, Edinburgh Entertainment, Edinburgh Restaurants, Edinburgh Weddings, Edinburgh Festivals and of course Shopping in Edinburgh. On Edinburgh Pubs and Clubs Guide website you can also find lot of useful information on where to relax and have fun in Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Castle website has many photographs of the various artefacts contained in Edinburgh Castle and pertaining to the Castle and Edinburgh itself. We act on what the Edinburgh Castle website visitors request, and have added the Edinburgh Tattoo page complete with the derivation of the word Tattoo as a result. We are always interested in what our visitors would like to see in Edinburgh, and in the pages of the Edinburgh Castle website. We welcome requests from you whether your interest is Edinburgh Castle or the City of Edinburgh, as we want our website to reflect what people really want to see and do when they visit Edinburgh. All photographs of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle used in our website are taken with state-of-the-art professional digital cameras by our resident Edinburgh Castle biz photographer, and we hope that his photos of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle reflect the diverse aspects of Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh.
Lake of Menteith
Lake of Menteith at sunset
The Lake of Menteith (Scottish Gaelic "Loch Innis MoCholmaig"), or, until the 20th century, the Loch of Menteith, is a loch in Scotland, located on the Flanders Moss, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth and Teith, upstream of Stirling. The only settlement of any size on the Lake of Menteith is Port of Menteith.
The are a number of small islands in the loch. On the largest, Inchmahome, is Inchmahome Priory, an ancient monastery. The priory served as refuge to Mary Queen of Scots in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September of that year.
The Loch is not particularly deep and can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice becomes thick enough (10 inches (25 cm)) an outdoor curling tournament called The Bonspiel or the Grand Match is held on the loch. The event can attract thousands of curlers despite its rarity. The last Grand Match was held in 1979.
The Lake of Menteith is often thought of as the only body of water in Scotland that is referred to as a lake. Actually, there are others, including four small artificial bodies: Pressmennan Lake, the Lake of the Hirsel, Lake Louise (within the grounds of Skibo Castle) and Cally Lake (near Gatehouse of Fleet). There is also a sea bay near Kirkcudbright known as Manxmans Lake. Nearly all other major bodies of water in Scotland are known as lochs. This unusual name is believed to be a corruption of the Lowland Scots Laich o Menteith, where "laich" simply means "low place".